Nucleosides exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activity that generally results from their ability to inhibit specific enzymes. This activity has led to their use in the development of various pharmaceutical agents used in the treatment of cancers and to combat harmful viruses, bacteria and parasites.An introduction to the chemistry of nucleoside mimetics, which combines carbohydrate, heterocyclic, and asymmetric synthesis, this book examines the diversity of nucleosides and the range of elegant chemistry involved. It emphasizes the importance of nucleosides as both therapeutic agents and as probes for studying biochemical processes.